The number of human beings inhabiting this earth itself is in billions. If we take into account the other living beings of millions of non-human species, the total number would be beyond mathematical calculation. It would be an impossible task for an individual to work day and night without rest for millions of years maintaining records of each moment of life of innumerable beings of the cosmos. Impracticability of maintenance of such a stupendous record puts a question mark on the very existence of Chitragupta. Modern science, however, substantiates the reality underlying the metaphorical descriptions given in the scriptures. Science has now established that all mental, verbal and physical activities carried out by an individual having a discriminative mind leave subtle impressions on the deeper levels of the psyche. In this way, like the compressed audio-visual recordings of events on a microchip of the computer or compact disc, all good and evil deeds are being recorded in the secret chambers of the sub-conscious mind. This record, like a C.D., remains in storage till it is required to be played at a desired moment through an appropriate mechanism. Since time immemorial, enlightened persons in India have wondered about the role of fate in human life. Sanskrit and Hindi literature has abundant references to the “footprints of Karma” (Karma Rekha), which it is said, can not be erased by any degree of intellectual endeavour.

In Indian spirituality, karma stands for any physical, verbal, mental or social activity. It means that each karma produces an imprint (Rekha), which cannot be erased before creating a reaction (Karmaphal). There is a belief that the Creator (Lord Brahma) inscribes the destiny on the forehead of a human being and this Divine Inscription cannot be erased by anyone (Vidhi ke likhe ko metanhara). Let us examine this concept from a scientific point of view. Microscopic examination shows innumerable furrows in the grey matter all over the brain. Medical science has not so far come to know the biological implications of these indentations. Comparative microscopic research studies have shown that density of these crenulations in the grey matter of highly evolved persons and thinkers is much more, than in the case of common masses. It shows that these microscopic lines in the grey matter of the brain are nothing but compact subtle impressions created by external activities, which we take as imprints of mental, vocal and physical actions. This record of activities (good and evil deeds) on the neurons of grey matter proves the existence of an intelligent mechanism, which Hindu Mythology refers to as the deity Chitragupta. In Sanskrit language too, the word “Chitragupta” means “a hidden picture”. It shows that there exists in the human mind a hidden chamber, an inner sentient mechanism (Antaha Chetana) or a subtle state of consciousness (Sookshma Man). (We may compare it with a back-up file of executable programmes in computer parlance).

It is well known that the subtle body (Sookshma Sharir) coexisting with the physical human body has four components “Man” (pronounced as Mun)- the source of desires, longings and aspirations; “Buddhi”- the discriminative faculty which deliberates, takes decisions and determines a course of action; “Chitta”- which stores traits, habits inclinations and temperament and “Ahamkar”- the overall personal sense of selfhood (Ego). It is also established that “Chitta” carries forward its record of good and bad impressions after dissolution of the body. It appears the expression “Chittagupta” of scriptures came to be known as “Chitragupta” in course of time. Hence the internal mechanism of mind, which creates the compact subtle recordings of human activities, could be taken as the deity “Chitragupta” of human mythology. No doubt, this intelligent mechanism (Chitragupta) is continuously engaged in maintaining records of all living beings. Since each being has its own personal Chitragupta and, therefore, for the entire population of animate beings there is an equal number of Chitraguptas. Thus maintenance of records of innumerable beings does not seem to be an impossibility.

Human mind has an infinite capacity for storage of information. It is quite possible for the subtle sentient mechanism of subconscious mind to maintain a systematic record of activities of a living being. There is also no contradiction in the one Chitragupta of mythology being countless Chitraguptas in innumerable beings. Divine powers of God are omnipresent. The universal life-force-Prana is one, but it is individually present in each living being. Similarly, the subtle celestial elements designated as deities Indra, Varun, Agni, Shiva and Yama in mythology are also all-pervasive. Air, for instance, in spite of being identified as fresh air of a garden or polluted air of an industrial area, is an integral part of the same atmosphere enveloping the earth. Similarly, though inhabiting and operating in numerous bodies independently, the deity Chitragupta is a single universal celestial entity.

How Does Chitragupta Maintain the Record?

Let us now discuss the working of Chitragupta. Why and how this deity evaluates the deeds of a person and what are the yardsticks of this evaluation? We shall also find out how after physical death, the lines of fate drawn by Chitragupta determine a soul’s new incarnation in conditions of hell or heaven. In the foregoing discussion, the reader has been introduced to the concept that our sub-conscious mind, itself operates as the deity Chitragupta. It keeps a continuous micro-record of our good and evil deeds in a condensed form, like the recordings on a small compact disc, the details of our virtuous and sinful deeds registered microscopically and subtly on certain neurons on the inner chambers of mind. In this way the writings of Chitragupta could be regarded as shorthand notes taken by the divine stenographer, Chitragupta, for presentation as testimony for objective evaluation of the total span of our life.

We are aware that human mind works on two levels- one external and the other internal. The outer mind is analytical. It analyses the pros and cons, accepts and discards, takes decisions and changes resolutions. The inner mind, on the other hand, is like an innocent but resolute child. It neither accepts nor discards anything, but as the true faithful representative of the divine, functions impartially toward divine justice. The external mind may think of escaping punishment by suppressing or overlooking the recordings of the lines of evil deeds and highlight only the virtuous deeds for reward. The inner mind (conscience is one of its constituents), on the other hand, works differently. It takes decisions like an unbiased judge of highest integrity, who cannot be influenced by allurement, fear or vested interest. It is said that in each human being there co-exist a saint and a devil. You may consider the secret inner mind as a representative of divinity and the external mind, which is ever engaged in reasoning, rationalizing, deliberating, conspiring and hypocrisy, as a tool of the devil. The external mind may deceive the soul by justifying each and every action of a person. The inner-mind, on the contrary, is the flame of the soul and a projection of the Absolute Truth. It is, therefore, incapable of conceit and deceit and is innately calm and detached. That is why God has entrusted it with such crucial responsibility. For the common man, it is the deity Chitragupta. Being absolutely impartial, this deity has been given the high seat of Divine Judge. Like a secret service agent, this deity is all the time vigilantly shadowing a person and recording his action in its secret diary.

In human society, there are two departments for punishing the violators of law namely the police and the court of justice. The police arrest the accused, collect the evidence and present these in the court of law. Thereafter the process of justice takes over. The judge delivers the judgment after considering all aspects of the offence and related circumstances. Depending on the circumstantial evidence, individuals are handed down varied sentences for the same type of offence. Let us consider an example. Three persons are accused of killing a person. Because of different circumstances associated with the crime, one is set free, the second person is sentenced to five years of imprisonment and the third is sent to the electric chair. The person, who was released, was a mason. While working at an elevated label, he had accidentally dropped a brick, which killed a passer by. The presiding judge found that the brick was dropped accidentally and unintentionally, without an ulterior motive. Hence the accused was released without punishment. The second accused was a farmer. Finding a thief stealing his crop, he had given him a fatal blow, killing the offender. Taking the circumstances, which prompted the offence, the judge considered that though it was natural for the farmer to show his anger on finding someone stealing his property, nevertheless, since he had over-reacted to a small offence, a sentence of five years imprisonment was given. The third person was a notorious robber who had robbed a rich man and intentionally killed him in the process. In this way the worldly court of justice pronounces judgment after minutely examining all circumstantial evidence.